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Karneval, also known as the “fifth season,” is a time when things can get a little Narrisch (crazy)! But what exactly is Carnival, Fastnacht, and Fasching?

These are different names for the same festive season, but the traditions vary by region:

  • Fasching – Celebrated in Austria, Bavaria, Berlin, Brandenburg, and Sachsen.
  • Fastnacht – Found in Baden, Franconia, Hesse, Saarland, Mainz, Swabia, Switzerland, and Luxembourg.
  • Karneval – The dominant term in the Rhineland, including Aachen, Bonn, Cologne, and Düsseldorf.

Karneval is all about indulgence before the solemn period of Lent, which begins on Ash Wednesday. Expect parades, elaborate floats, costumes, dancing, formal balls, and plenty of partying.

The festivities officially kick off on November 11th at 11:11 AM and reach their peak in the wild week leading up to Ash Wednesday. 

Narrenzunft

Karneval isn’t just one celebration—it takes on different forms across Germany. One unique variation is the Swabian-Alemannic Fasnet, which has deep-rooted traditions distinct from the more well-known Rhenish Karneval.

Many local carnival clubs, especially those from the Swabian-Alemannic Fasnet and some parts of the Rhenish Karneval, refer to themselves as Fools’ Guilds (Narrenzünfte). These guilds play a crucial role in preserving centuries-old customs, organizing events, and bringing communities together during the carnival season. They are usually structured as registered associations (Vereine), ensuring that the traditions are passed down through generations.

If you’re interested in experiencing these unique festivities, you can find the Zunfttermine (guild event schedule) here.

For a comprehensive list of associations and guilds, check out this resource.

Days until Ash Wednesday
Days until Easter

Calendar

Womens Carnival

Weiberfastnacht, or “Women’s Carnival”, marks the official start of the street carnival (Straßenkarneval) in many parts of Germany, especially in the Rhineland (Cologne, Düsseldorf, and Bonn). On this day, women symbolically take over power. A famous tradition is women cutting off men’s ties, symbolizing their loss of authority, and in return, men may receive a kiss (Bützchen). People dress in costumes, celebrate in the streets, and enjoy lively festivities with music and dancing.

  • The Thursday before Ash Wednesday
More info

History

Weiberfastnacht dates back to 1824 when washerwomen in Bonn’s Beuel district formed their own carnival committee to protest against male-dominated celebrations. Over time, it evolved into a fun and rebellious tradition where women take control for a day. Today, it is a major event in Karneval (the German pre-Lenten festival), leading up to Rosenmontag and culminating on Ash Wednesday.

What happens?

  • Women take over the streets and playfully dominate the day, with women symbolically taking control of the town or city.
  • The day is marked by fun, laughter, and chaos, as people dress in wild costumes and parade through the streets.
  • The street carnivals start at 11:11 when married women, so-called ‘Möhnen’, storm the town hall to cut the ties of the men, as is traditional, and seize power..

Fastnachtssamstag

Carnival Saturday is part of the “crazy days” (tolle Tage) of the German Karneval/Fasching season. While not as widely recognized as Weiberfastnacht (Thursday) or Rosenmontag (Monday), it is still a major day for celebrations, especially in Cologne, Düsseldorf, and Mainz. Many cities hold parades, street parties, and costume balls, with people dressing up in colourful and creative costumes.
Bars and clubs are packed with revellers, and festivities continue late into the night. It is a time of fun and laughter before the solemn period of Lent begins on Ash Wednesday.

  • The Saturday before Ash Wednesday
more info

History

Carnival traditions in Germany date back to medieval times and were influenced by pre-Christian rituals that celebrated the end of winter. By the Middle Ages, Catholic communities used the days before Lent for feasting and merrymaking before the fasting period. Karnevalssamstag has always been a key part of this celebration, leading up to the biggest events on Rosenmontag and Veilchendienstag (Shrove Tuesday).

What happens?

  • The first big parades and parties kick off.
  • Cities like Cologne, Düsseldorf, and Mainz have street festivals.
  • Traditional Fastnacht figures appear in Swabian-Alemannic regions (e.g., wooden-masked jesters).
  • In Catholic regions, there are often masked balls and costume parties.

Regional Differences:

  • Rhineland: Street parades and parties begin, leading up to the major events.
  • Swabian-Alemannic Fastnacht: Local traditions focus on folklore, with wooden-masked jesters scaring away winter spirits.

Fastnachtssontag

Tulip Sunday (Tulpensonntag), also known as Carnival Sunday (Karnevalssonntag), is the festive name for the Sunday before Rose Monday (Rosenmontag). In the Swabian-Alemannic Fasnet, it is called Fastnacht Sunday (Fastnachtssonntag), while in Austria and Bavaria, it is referred to as Fasching Sunday (Faschingssonntag).

It is one of the major celebration days during the Karneval (Carnival) season in Germany. It is typically marked by costume parades, parties, and festivities across the country, with particularly large events in cities like Cologne, Düsseldorf, Mainz, and Koblenz. The atmosphere is festive, and people of all ages gather in the streets to enjoy music, dancing, and performances. Many communities hold fun parades, with carnival floats and marching bands spreading joy and laughter. The traditional “Karneval” colours of purple, green, and gold dominate the streets.

  • The Sunday before Ash Wednesday
more info

History

Carnival celebrations in Germany have roots going back to pre-Christian times, with many ancient traditions focusing on banishing winter and welcoming the arrival of spring. Over time, the celebrations merged with Catholic feasts held before Lent, a period of fasting and reflection. Carnival Sunday became one of the central days for street parades and parties, especially in cities with large carnival traditions. It is considered one of the most lively and colourful days of the whole Karneval season, preceding the biggest celebration of Rosenmontag (Carnival Monday).

What happens?

  • Medium-sized parades take place, often in smaller towns.
  • People wear costumes, and sweets (Kamelle) are thrown from floats.
  • Some Catholic regions hold mock trials where local figures are humorously judged.

Regional Differences:

  • Alemannic regions (Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, parts of Switzerland): Traditional processions with historical or witch costumes.
  • Rhineland (Cologne, Mainz, Düsseldorf): Tends to be a warm-up for Rosenmontag.

Rosenmontag

Rosenmontag (Shrove Monday) is the highlight of the Karneval season in Germany and one of the most anticipated days of the year, especially in regions like Cologne, Düsseldorf, Mainz, and Koblenz. The day is marked by large parades, carnival floats, dancing, and street parties. People gather in costumes, and the atmosphere is filled with fun, music, and satire. The famous Rosenmontag parades feature elaborate floats and groups of marchers throwing candy, flowers, and sometimes even small gifts into the crowd. The events are a feast for the eyes, with a focus on humour, fun, and social commentary.

  • The Monday before Ash Wednesday
more info

History

Rosenmontag has its origins in the medieval carnival tradition, where the last days before Lent were marked by revelry and festivities. The name “Rosenmontag” (literally “Rose Monday”) is thought to derive from an old tradition where people would throw roses at one another, or it may be linked to the Latin term “ros”, meaning “roast” (as the day marked the last big feast before the fasting period). Over time, Rosenmontag became the culmination of Karneval celebrations in Germany, especially in cities with a strong carnival tradition. The parades and parties are a lively, colourful way to mark the end of the pre-Lenten festivities before the solemn period of Ash Wednesday

What happens?

  • Massive parades in Cologne, Mainz, and Düsseldorf.
  • Floats feature satirical themes, mocking politics and social issues.
  • Costumed crowds chant carnival slogans:
    • Cologne: “Alaaf!”
    • Düsseldorf & Mainz: “Helau!”
  • People drink, sing, and party in the streets from morning till night.


Regional Differences:

  • Cologne: The biggest and most famous parade in Germany, with TV coverage.
  • Düsseldorf & Mainz: Similar large parades, but each city has its unique style and themes.
  • Swabian-Alemannic Fastnacht: More traditional processions with masked jesters and witches.

Fastnachtsdienstag

Shrove Tuesday (Fastnachtsdienstag), also known as Fasching Tuesday (Faschingsdienstag), Carnival Tuesday (Karnevalsdienstag), Fasnets-Zeisdig, Fastnacht Tuesday (Fasnachtsdienstag), Violet Tuesday (Veilchendienstag), or Fools’ Kirchweih (Narrenkirchweih), marks the final day of the carnival season, following Rose Monday (Rosenmontag).
While not as widely celebrated as Rosenmontag (Carnival Monday), it is still an important day for festivities, particularly in regions like Mainz and Cologne. The day is marked by smaller parades, parties, and street celebrations, and is often seen as the time to enjoy the last of the carnival fun. Traditionally, this day also includes eating fats and sweets, with the famous Krapfen (jelly doughnuts) often enjoyed before the fasting period begins.

  • The Tuesday before Ash Wednesday
more info

History

Veilchendienstag was traditionally the last day of feasting before the 40 days of Lent, a period of fasting and reflection for Christians. The name “Veilchendienstag” comes from an old tradition of violet (veilchen) flowers, which were often used in parades and celebrations in some regions of Germany. Similar to Mardi Gras in other countries, Veilchendienstag marks the final opportunity to indulge before Ash Wednesday. While the parades and parties may not be as grand as those on Rosenmontag, it still hold significance as the culmination of the Karneval season.

What happens?

  • The last big parties and parades before Lent begins.
  • In some regions, there’s a burning of the Nubbel, a straw figure symbolizing sins committed during Karneval.
  • In Bavaria and Swabian-Alemannic areas, the focus is on traditional Fasnacht figures instead of parades.


Regional Differences:

  • Cologne & Rhineland: Many bars hold closing parties before midnight.
  • Swabian-Alemannic regions: The witches’ burnings and processions mark the end of the season.

Ash Wednesday

Aschermittwoch (Ash Wednesday) is the first day of Lent in the Christian calendar. It is a solemn day of reflection and repentance that marks the beginning of a 40-day period of fasting and spiritual preparation leading up to Easter. In Germany, many people attend church services where they receive ashes on their foreheads as a sign of penance, symbolizing mortality and the need for reconciliation with God. The day is also known for the tradition of no meat consumption, especially in Catholic regions, where many enjoy fish dishes instead.

  • The first day of Lent, 46 days before Easter
more info

History

The tradition of Ash Wednesday dates back to the 6th century when the Church established the practice of marking the beginning of Lent with the imposition of ashes as a sign of repentance. The ashes are traditionally made from the burned palms of the previous year’s Palm Sunday. The day follows the final day of Karneval (the Carnival season), which culminates on Veilchendienstag (Shrove Tuesday), and serves as a stark contrast to the revelry of the previous days. The focus of Ash Wednesday is on penance, self-discipline, and spiritual renewal as Christians prepare for the Easter celebration of Christ’s resurrection.

What happens?

  • The wild parties abruptly end, and Lent (Fastenzeit) begins.
  • Catholics attend church services, receiving ashes on their foreheads.
  • Traditional fish meals are eaten, symbolizing the return to fasting.
  • Politicians hold Ash Wednesday speeches, often full of sharp political humour.

 

Regional Differences:

  • Catholic regions: More solemn observances, with many people giving up meat, sweets, or alcohol for Lent.
  • Protestant regions: Fasching is less of a tradition, so Ash Wednesday is a normal day.

Krapfen (Berliner) – Carnival Donuts

  • These jam-filled pastries (similar to doughnuts) are a Fasching staple.
  • They’re often eaten throughout the Karneval season and are sold at bakeries and fairs.
  • Why? They symbolize indulgence before the fasting period of Lent begins.

Herring

  • Pickled herring is a common dish served on Ash Wednesday, symbolizing humility and simplicity.
  • It is often eaten with potatoes or as part of a salad.
  • In some regions, matjes herring (a type of young, mild herring) is served as a seasonal treat.

Puffer

  • These are fried potato pancakes often served with sugar or apple sauce.
  • Found in southern Germany, especially during Weiberfastnacht (Women’s Carnival Day), when people are on the streets celebrating.

Sauerbraten

  • A pot roast of beef, typically marinated in vinegar and spices, served with red cabbage and potatoes.
  • It’s a classic winter dish enjoyed in many regions before Lent.

Schweinshaxe

  • The famous crispy pork knuckle, served with sauerkraut and potatoes, is often eaten during Carnival season and is popular in Bavaria.
  • It’s a hearty, indulgent dish for those celebrating before the fasting season begins.
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Beer

  • In many parts of Germany, beer is the beverage of choice for Karneval celebrations, especially in Bavaria and the Rhineland.
  • Kolsch beer is particularly popular in Cologne.

Info on the web

Sure! Here’s the updated version with the links in bold for easy copying and pasting:

Cologne (Köln):

Southern Germany:

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